Eredivisie: NEC Nijmegen relegated but RKC Waalwijk fight on

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NEC Nijmegen were relegated from the Eredivisie on Sunday after defeat to Sparta Rotterdam in the promotion/relegation play-offs.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, NEC needed to turn things around on home soil at the Goffertstadion but instead it was Sparta who got off to a fast start, Roald van Hout scoring in only the fourth minute.

Mimoun Mahi made it 2-0 on the day and Steef Nieuwendaal's goal before half-time put the result beyond doubt, Sparta winning 4-1 on aggregate despite Ryan Koolwijk's second-half strike.

RKC Waalwijk fight on after overcoming De Graafschap 2-1 on aggregate.

Dean Koolhof's goal for De Graafschap had levelled the tie, following RKC's first-leg win, but substitute Jean-David Beauguel almost immediately restored the Eredivisie side's advantage.

They will play Excelsior in the decisive third round after Marinus Dijkhuizen's side won 2-1 on the day and 5-2 on aggregate against FC Den Bosch.

Ralf Seuntjens scored in the 17th minute to give Den Bosch hope in the tie but Lars Veldwijk's double in the final 20 minutes saw Excelsior safely through and kept the promotion dream alive for the third-placed finishers.

Dordrecht ended the regular season one place higher than that and will tackle Sparta after emulating Excelsior's scoreline as they beat VVV-Venlo.

Goals from Paul Gladon in the sixth minute and Jeffrey Fortes in the 83rd made sure of a 5-2 aggregate win, Jules Reimerink having replied for VVV.

The third-round ties will be played over two legs on Thursday and Sunday of next week.